The Legion Tab Gen 5 is an undeniably good-looking and overpriced new gaming tablet. | Image by Lenovo
Are you looking for a new Android tablet with a premium design, ultra-advanced specifications, and a reasonable price point? The Lenovo Legion Tab Gen 5 is... probably not your best option right now, as it only appears to check two of those boxes while proving a major disappointment (at least for the time being) in the third category.
8.8-inch PureSight display with 3040 x 1904 pixel resolution and 165Hz refresh rate technology;
Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 processor;
Android 16;
12GB LPDDR5T memory;
256GB UFS 4.1 Pro internal storage;
50MP rear-facing camera;
8MP front-facing camera;
9,000mAh battery;
68W charging capabilities;
Dual high-power speakers with Dolby Atmos;
Dual USB-C ports;
Wi-Fi 7;
Bluetooth 6.0;
206.46 x 128.5 x 7.59mm dimensions;
360 grams weight;
Eclipse Black color.
If you've been following my writing for the last couple of years, you already know I'm no Lenovo hater. In fact, I've probably recommended the brand's decidedly feature-packed and affordable devices over their Apple and Samsung-made rivals more than any other products (save perhaps for Motorola's budget-friendly foldables, which also happen to be manufactured by Lenovo).
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The Legion Tab Gen 5 is remarkably thin and equipped with two USB Type-C ports. | Image by Lenovo
But I simply can't get behind this new 8.8-inch powerhouse, no matter how impressive that Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 SoC is and how substantial of a battery life upgrade the 9,000mAh cell should provide over the comparatively tiny 6,550mAh battery inside the Legion Tab Gen 3.
How much should the Legion Tab Gen 5 cost for you to consider a purchase?
The Legion Tab Gen 5 massively improves its predecessor's 13MP rear camera as well while somehow also reducing the 7.79mm thickness and only adding 10 grams to the product weight despite that mind-blowing aforementioned battery size increase. Still, none of these upgrades can justify a price hike of... $300.
The Legion Tab Gen 3 continues to be the smarter buy... if you can find it
The Legion Tab Gen 3 is also a looker and a powerhouse, but it's a little hard to find right now. | Image by Lenovo
Clearly, the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3-powered gaming tablet was too good to turn down for a lot of Lenovo fans at a reduced price of $399.99, and now the device is gone again. Could it be for good this time around? Maybe, although Lenovo keeps my hopes alive by listing the Legion Tab Gen 3 as "available soon."
If it ever returns, the previous-gen 8.8-incher could arguably provide better value for your money than its successor even at a regular price of $549.99, let alone at $399.99 or $449.99.
What else can you get right now for $850 or less?
A 12.7-inch Lenovo Yoga Tab Plus with Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 power, a keyboard, and stylus + a 12.7-inch Idea Tab Pro with a stylus;
An iPad Pro 11 (M5) with 256GB storage (if you only add $50 more).
To be perfectly clear, those are just a few of your options today. And I'm not necessarily saying all combinations are better than the Legion Tab Gen 5, but when the gargantuan Yoga Tab Plus is available for as little as $549.99, something is definitely wrong with the retail price of this new "gaming" tablet.
The undeniably premium design still doesn't justify the $849.99 price point. | Image by Lenovo
By the way, if you're thinking of splashing the cash here primarily for that label, you might want to first consider what makes the Lenovo Legion Tab Gen 5 a good gaming tablet and what separates it from non-gaming devices.
The Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 chipset, dual USB-C ports, gorgeous screen, and proprietary Legion ColdFront cooling technology are certainly decent arguments in favor of this bad boy, but Apple's latest iPad Pros and the Galaxy Tab S11 are definitely no pushovers in terms of raw power and display quality (not to mention sheer screen size), so it's probably wise to at least wait and see if Lenovo knocks the $849.99 price down a little before long.
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Adrian, a mobile technology enthusiast since the Nokia 3310 era, has been a dynamic presence in the tech journalism field, contributing to Android Authority, Digital Trends, and Pocketnow before joining PhoneArena in 2018. His expertise spans across various platforms, with a particular fondness for the diversity of the Android ecosystem. Despite the challenges of balancing full-time parenthood with his work, Adrian's passion for tech trends, running, and movies keeps him energized. His commitment to mid-range smartphones has led to an eclectic collection of devices, saved from personal bankruptcy by his preference for 'adequate' over 'overpriced'.
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